An 11-year-old Michigan boy is dead after police say he accidentally shot himself in the face while playing with his grandfather's gun in a makeshift fort.

According to the Antrim County Sheriff’s Department, Thomas Belanger and his 14-year-old brother, Ashten, were playing in their grandparents’ yard in Alba Thursday when a revolver went off.

The department says Thomas tripped on some boards and the gun fired in his face, killing him instantly.

Too young: Thomas 'Tom Tom' Belanger (left and right), 11, lost his life July 23 when he accidentally shot himself in the face with his grandfather's revolver. The gun went off when the boy tripped while playing in a fort

Investigators say the boys took their grandfather’s unloaded .357 revolver from a dresser drawer and then found ammunition in a shed on the property.

The house is located on Tobias Road in Star Township, about 25 miles south of Petoskey.

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Thomas and Ashten’s grandparents and a step-sibling were home at the time but did not witness the fatal shooting.

Family friend Becky Beagle described Thomas to the Traverse City Record-Eagle as an active and outgoing boy who loved to go camping and got along with everyone. His funeral will take place Tuesday, followed by a burial ceremony.

Thomas, a rising sixth grader, is survived by his parents, three brothers and two sisters.

No child's play: Police in Alba, Michigan, say Thomas and his 14-year-old brother took their grandfather’s unloaded .357 revolver from a dresser drawer and then found ammunition in a shed on the property

His obituary states that the 11-year-old, lovingly nicknamed ‘Tom Tom’ by his family,’ was obsessed with Detroit sports and trucks. He also loved fishing and climbing trees.

Following the death, the sheriff’s department is warning gun owners to use gun safes and gun locks to secure their weapons.

‘We know that, historically, when you have unsecured weapons, children touch those weapons, play with those weapons, and many times there is a tragic ending,’ Detective Sgt. James Janisse said.